Twist

Last Thursday, we went to see the production Twist at the Alliance Theatre.  Here is my response to the play.

The orphan is an archetype in literature, meaning it expresses deep, often unexpressed feelings about the human condition.  Interpret Twist's character as an orphan archetype.

At some point or another, everyone feels like they're and orphan, whether or not they really are.  Abandonment, betrayal, and loneliness can be some things that trigger this "orphan" feeling in otherwise normal people.  In this play, Twist feels like he can't fit in anywhere because he is biracial -- a mulatto.  He has no parents, either, a true orphan, and Twist is totally innocent.  His character is how all protagonists are in some form or another -- abandoned, feeling unloved, and having done nothing wrong.  This are the "unexpressed feelings about the human condition" which many everyday people feel, making it a great personality to label all good guys.  This is because it is easy to relate to them, and makes the audience feel what the protagonist is feeling.

The villain is an archetype.  Analyze the character of Lucius as a villain archetype.  What does he represent?


In this play, the protagonist, Twist, and his friends are African-American, but the antagonist, Lucius, is white.  Lucius is greedy and heartless, proving this when he so willingly wants to kill his family for money.  While he was very racist and a member of the Ku Klux Klan, it seemed that Lucius was more concerned with money than race.  This reverts back to the original English Oliver Twist because of classism.  He was wealthy already, a typical villainous characteristic.  In how many stories is the 'good guy' rich and the 'bad guy' poor?  Never.  This could be that, because most people are not affluent, they don't like the richer, oppressive men in charge in society -- the typical villains.  Lucius fit every villainous stereotype -- rich, white, hating, greedy, but still powerful in society.

What worked about the production?  What needed to be improved?  If a producer hired you to get the production ready for Broadway, what changes would you make?

As a whole, I really enjoyed Twist.  Everyone in the cast was capable of their role, and I felt that the lead roles were fantastic.  The actress who played Della was fantastic -- great singer, dancer, and actress with a great stage presence.  My favorite actor, while he played my least favorite literary character, was Lucius.  He was a good singer and a better actor, proving this to the audience who he was able to convince his evilness so well that he was "booed" at the curtain call.  Twist himself was a perfect fit, too, his sometimes squeaky voice very charming and innocent.  If I had to improve anything, I might make it move a bit faster.  It seemed to drag on for a long time, especially in the middle of the play.  Perhaps they would speed up the tempo of some songs, making it move a bit quiver.  Also, the ensemble seemed to be too small at times, and many of them also held the role of other characters.  The bigger the ensemble, the bigger the sound and effect of their dancing.  Overall, I fine it very hard to criticize this play, because it was so good.

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"I am learning all the time. My tombstone will be my diploma."

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